ST. JOHNSBURY — A local youth who is accused of starting a small fire in an elevator at the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum over the weekend is to be charged with fourth-degree arson today at Caledonia County criminal court in St. Johnsbury.

According to police, 17-year-old Robert Rohaley was arrested in connection with the fire on Railroad Street shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday.

Rohaley’s arrest occurred roughly 15 minutes after police spoke with a patron who found printed posters on fire in the Athenaeum’s elevator and extinguished the small blaze with his foot. The patron told police he saw two young men exit the elevator and that when he entered it he found the burning items.

On the strength of physical descriptions provided by the patron and surveillance video, police said they were quickly able to locate both youths and arrested Rohaley.